Irked by the developments in the Rajya Sabha over the women’s bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telephoned Vice President Hamid Ansari and expressed regret over attempts by some SP members to attack him in the House.

The Prime Minister called Mr. Ansari on Monday to express regret over the behaviour of the Samajwadi Party members in question, sources in the Vice President’s office said.

During pandemonium over the measure, Nand Kishore Yadav and Kamal Akhtar of SP had led the combined offensive of their party and RJD in opposing the bill.

Mr. Yadav had tried to attack the Chairman by attempting to climb on to the podium. He had uprooted the microphone and thrown stationery placed on Mr. Ansari’s table even as some other members were seen threatening to reach the podium.

The security attendants had to swing into action and shield the Chairman.

Mr. Akhtar had also climbed the table of the Rajya Sabha’s official reporters, chanting slogans against the bill, while some members, including RJD’s Rajniti Prasad, had torn the copy of the bill and chucked pieces of the paper towards the chair.